Cast Iron Owl Hitching Post c. 1937

V.L. Vance made this cast iron owl hitching post in no specific place, sometime between 1855 and 1995. It’s a drawing of a thing, but the thing is also art, right? The owl itself is like, rounded off. It’s this smooth gray shape, and you can kinda see all the tiny marks that make it up. It’s not just one flat color, it’s all these little lines and curves that give it depth. The base too has these striations, built up like coils of clay. The whole thing feels handmade, not slick or perfect. I love how the owl's got these big eyes, staring straight ahead. Like it knows something you don't. It’s like this silent guardian, watching over things, maybe a little bit spooky too. It puts me in mind of Red Grooms, the way he took everyday objects and cranked up the volume.